| The primary responsibility of the Occupational | | | | program should be communicated to all |
| Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is to | | | | employees. |
| develop and enforce health and safety standards | | | | Second, coaching employees on health and safety, |
| that protect workers in the workplace. It has | | | | including OSHA compliant training, should be |
| mandatory power to audit organizations for | | | | routine. Proper training is necessary to insure that |
| compliance of health and safety standards. OSHA | | | | workers understand potential hazards as well as |
| conducts workplace inspections to make certain | | | | practice safe working methods. |
| that employers are complying with the standards | | | | Third, it is important for companies to stress |
| and providing a safe and healthful workplace. | | | | employee participation in safe practices. Active |
| OSHA inspectors, called compliance and safety | | | | employee involvement can greatly enhance |
| officers, carry out these inspections/audits. These | | | | compliance to OSHA standards. |
| may be carried out due to accidents, fatalities, | | | | Fourth, it is imperative that businesses have a |
| situations of imminent danger, complaints and | | | | written hazard communication program. This is |
| referrals or as a follow-up investigation. An OSHA | | | | particularly important in industries handling |
| audit can be a tedious and stressful experience | | | | hazardous chemicals. The complexity of the |
| for employers since the agency is empowered to | | | | program will obviously depend upon the specific |
| impose penalties on those who are in violation of | | | | needs of the worksite. It may range from a |
| the standards. This is particularly true for small | | | | simple collation of information from Material |
| businesses that may not have the wherewithal to | | | | Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), to a comprehensive |
| be in full OSHA compliance. | | | | OSHA mandated program in line with the 29 CFR |
| Generally, an employer who takes proactive | | | | 1910.1200 Standard. |
| action (and the associated pains) to try and | | | | Fifth, periodic self inspections and compliance |
| adhere to mandated requirements will fare much | | | | audits will help to identify violations and allow |
| better during such OSHA inspections. A little | | | | corrective action to be taken. Earlier cases of |
| known fact for many employers is that | | | | accidents or injuries, if any, can also be analyzed |
| compliance officers normally research the history | | | | for possible preventive measures. This will |
| of a worksite before an inspection. Therefore it | | | | minimize the likelihood of being cited for violations |
| pays to work with the inspectors and answer | | | | during OSHA audits. |
| questions fully and honestly, rather than adopt | | | | Record keeping is one of the most important |
| stalling tactics. Actions like insisting on an inspection | | | | tools for providing proof of a company's efforts |
| warrant, to buy time, can turn out to be | | | | to comply with an OSHA inspector. The scope of |
| counterproductive in the end. | | | | documentation is wide and the more accurately |
| Every workplace is unique; no universal formula | | | | records are maintained; the better it is for audits. |
| can be prescribed for negotiating an OSHA audit | | | | Examples of relevant documentation would be |
| unscathed. However, attention to some basic | | | | accident reports, injury and illness reports, |
| details can help immensely: | | | | exposure records (hazmat exposure, noise |
| First, having an effective safety and health | | | | exposure, etc where applicable), past inspections |
| program which lays down the policies, procedures | | | | and action-taken reports, as well as employee |
| and practices for protection against occupational | | | | training records. |
| safety and health hazards helps to develop the | | | | All these steps will lessen the stress of an OSHA |
| proper mindset. Depending upon the type industry | | | | inspection and reduce the odds of receiving |
| and the complexity of operations, these programs | | | | citations and penalties. As an OSHA fact sheet |
| may even include a Processes Safety | | | | states, "OSHA's primary goal is correcting hazards |
| Management (PSM) program mandated by the 29 | | | | and maintaining compliance, rather than issuing |
| CFR 1910.119 OSHA Standards. A written | | | | citations or collecting penalties. |